Central Dewitt Hall of Fame Induction Class 2003 David C. Hilmers Central Dewitt Hall of Fame Induction Class 2003

Inducted for Outstanding Contributions as a Distinguished Graduate of Central High School

Biography A 1968 graduate of Central High School, David C. Hilmers excelled in academics and athletics. Upon graduation, Mr. Hilmers attended Cornell College, graduating in 1972 with a double major in Mathematics and Economics/Business. While at Cornell, Mr. Hilmers earned (in 1971) the LeClerc Award presented to the Outstanding Scholar Athlete-Midwest Conference, 1st Team All-Conference in Football in 1971, Outstanding Trackman in 1972, and Outstanding Athlete 1972. Mr. Hilmers graduated with 11 Varsity Letters at Cornell, was awarded the NCAA Postgraduate Fellowship, National Science Foundation Research Grant in Mathematics, graduated Summa Cum Laude and Distinction in Major Field. In 1971, David Hilmers joined the United States Marine Corps and remained in the Corps through 1992, retiring with the rank of Colonel. Mr. Hilmers graduated 1st in his class of Marine Corps Officer School, graduated first in class in Basic and Advanced Flight Training and first in class in the A-6 Intruder jet class. During his time in the Marine Corps, Mr. Hilmers earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and (MSEE) and the degree of Electrical Engineer (EE). In the Corps, Mr. Hilmers logged over 2000 hours in high performance aircraft and received the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, DOD Superior Service Medal, 2 DOD Meritorious Service Medals, CIA National Intelligence Achievement Medal, 2 National Defense Medals, and Overseas Deployment medal.

Biography (cont.) In 1980, David Hilmers was selected as an astronaut for the National Aeronautical Space Administration. Mr. Hilmers served as Mission Control Communicator for five shuttle missions, Mission Specialist on four (4) Space Shuttle missions (85, 88, 90, 92), including Mission Scientist on his last space flight conducting over 50 biological, physiological, and physics experiments. He totaled over 493 hours in space during his four missions. Mr. Hilmers was awarded several NASA awards including the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, 3 NASA Exceptional Service Medals, and 4 NASA Space Flight Medals. After retirement from the Marine Corps and service with NASA, Mr. Hilmers attended medical school at Baylor College of Medicine, graduating with a degree in 1995. Dr. Hilmers has been Chief Resident, is board certified in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, a Jonathan Mann fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics fellow, and Yale-Johnson & Johnson Scholar in International Medicine.

Article from the Observer If you are looking for an example to prove the old saying “The sky is the limit,” is true, David Hilmers is your man. The 1968 graduate of Central has spent over 438 hours orbiting the earth as a crew member on four shuttle missions for NASA. That alone is impressive, but Hilmers’ work for the space program is just a small part of what this amazing individual has accomplished so far in his 53 years on the earth. While a student at Central, Hilmers competed in football, basketball and track. Upon his graduation from Central he traveled west down Hwy. 30 to Cornell. He graduated from Cornell in 1972 with a double major of mathematics and economics/business. In addition to putting in the time needed to complete a double major, Hilmers received numerous awards. Included among them were the LeClerc Award in 1971, presented to the Outstanding Scholar-Athlete in the Midwest Conference; was named the Outstanding Athlete as well as the Outstanding Trackman at Cornell for 1972; graduated Summa Cum Laude; and was named to Phi Beta Kappa. After graduating from Cornell, he attended a seven-month Marine Corps Office Basic School where he graduated No. 1 in a class of 250 new Marine lieutenants.

The Observer (cont.) He proceeded to Basic and Advanced Flight Training School and A-6 Intruder jet training class, again graduating No. 1 in both classes. In 1980 he was one of 19 (out of 3,500) applicants selected as a NASA astronaut. During his NASA career, he headed several departments within the astronaut office; served as Mission Control Communicator for five shuttle missions; in 1985 he flew as mission specialist on the first flight of the shuttle Atlantis; in 1988 he flew as a mission specialist on Discovery, which was the first flight after the Challenger disaster; in 1990 he flew as a mission specialist on Atlantis; and in 1992 he flew as a mission specialist/mission scientist on Discovery. He was awarded the NASA Distinguished Service award, three NASA Exceptional Service medals and four NASA Space Flight Medals. Among his military honors are: the Department of Defense (DOD) Distinguished Service Medal; DOD Superior Service Medal; two DOD Meritorious Service medals; the CIA National Intelligence Achievement award; the National Defense medal; and the Overseas Deployment medal. Hilmers retired from the Marine Corps in 1992 with the rank of Colonel. Hilmers may have retired from the Marines, but with one career ending, he began another as a medical student at Baylor.

The Observer (cont.) Upon his graduation from the Baylor College of Medicine he has traveled the world. He worked with the Baylor International Pediatrics AIDS Initiative with HIV-infected patients in Namibia, Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, Romania, Latin America and Houston. Currently he is working with the USDA Children Nutrition Research Center and the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency on research projects concerning micronutrient deficiencies and food fortification programs in the developing world, including Botswana, Brazil, Peru, Panama, South Africa, Gambia, Mexico, Vietnam, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Egypt and China. He’s also a consultant with Coca Cola and the Minute Maid company on the development of a nutritional supplement for children in the developing world; is collaborating with Johns Hopkins University on a grant investigating Vitamin D deficiency and rickets in infants; and has been awarded a grant from the USDA to study zinc deficiency in HIV-infected children in Panama. Most of us would be thrilled to have accomplished just one of the things Hilmers has. The planet Krypton may have sent the earth its version of Superman, but Central High School and DeWitt sent the world its own Superman — David Hilmers.

MultiMedia Space Shuttle Discovery Mission https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HIrUPjm Z2A